The present application relates to a battery module, which includes a first type of battery cells and a second type of battery cells electrically connected in series. The first type of battery cells and the second type of battery cells are battery cells with different chemical systems. The first type of battery cells includes N first battery cells, and the second type of battery cells includes M second battery cells, where N and M are greater than or equal one. The present application also relates to a battery pack and an electric apparatus including the battery module, and method and device for manufacturing the battery module.

A positive-electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery contains a lithium complex compound that is represented by the formula: Li.sub.1+aNi.sub.bMn.sub.cCo.sub.dTi.sub.eM.sub.fO.sub.2+α, and has an atomic ratio Ti.sup.3+/Ti.sup.4+ between Ti.sup.3+ and Ti.sup.4+, as determined through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, of greater than or equal to 1.5 and less than or equal to 20. In the formula, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Zr, Mo, and Nb, and a, b, c, d, e, f, and a are numbers satisfying −0.1≤a≤0.2, 0.7<b≤0.9, 0≤c<0.3, 0≤d<0.3, 0<e≤0.25, 0≤f<0.3, b+c+d+e+f=1, and −0.2≤α≤0.2.

A positive-electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery contains a lithium complex compound that is represented by the formula: Li.sub.1+aNi.sub.bMn.sub.cCo.sub.dTi.sub.eM.sub.fO.sub.2+α, and has an atomic ratio Ti.sup.3+/Ti.sup.4+ between Ti.sup.3+ and Ti.sup.4+, as determined through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, of greater than or equal to 1.5 and less than or equal to 20. In the formula, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Zr, Mo, and Nb, and a, b, c, d, e, f, and a are numbers satisfying −0.1≤a≤0.2, 0.7<b≤0.9, 0≤c<0.3, 0≤d<0.3, 0<e≤0.25, 0≤f<0.3, b+c+d+e+f=1, and −0.2≤α≤0.2.

An electrode for batteries that does not include a metal-film-type current collector is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the electrode comprises a composite having a core-shell structure including a core having an electrode active material, and a metal material coated on or doped in the surface of the core. A secondary battery having the electrode has increased capacity and energy density and exhibits improved lifespan characteristics.

A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell has a casing of first and second ceramic substrates that are hermetically secured to each other to provide an internal space housing an electrode assembly. First and second conductive pathways extend through the ceramic substrates. The pathways have respective inner surfaces that are conductively connected to the respective anode and cathode current collectors and respective outer surfaces that provide for connection to a load. An electrolyte in the internal space of the housing activates the electrode assembly.

A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell has a casing of first and second ceramic substrates that are hermetically secured to each other to provide an internal space housing an electrode assembly. First and second conductive pathways extend through the ceramic substrates. The pathways have respective inner surfaces that are conductively connected to the respective anode and cathode current collectors and respective outer surfaces that provide for connection to a load. An electrolyte in the internal space of the housing activates the electrode assembly.

The process of making a lithium ion battery cathode comprises the step of forming a slurry of an active material, a nano-size conductive agent, a binder polymer, a solvent and a dispersant. The solvent consists essentially of one or more of a compound of Formula 1, 2, or 3, and the dispersant comprises an ethyl cellulose.

A negative electrode slurry and a method of preparing the same. The negative electrode slurry includes lithium titanium oxide (LTO), a carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant, a binder, and an aqueous solvent. The carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 2,500 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol and is present in an amount of 1.5 parts by weight to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the lithium titanium oxide.

A negative electrode slurry and a method of preparing the same. The negative electrode slurry includes lithium titanium oxide (LTO), a carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant, a binder, and an aqueous solvent. The carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 2,500 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol and is present in an amount of 1.5 parts by weight to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the lithium titanium oxide.

In one embodiment, a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery, the positive electrode active material being a primary particle having a monolithic structure that includes a lithium composite metal oxide of Formula 1 below, wherein the primary particle has an average particle size (D.sub.50) of 2 μm to 20 μm and a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area of 0.15 m.sup.2/g to 0.5 m.sup.2/g, and wherein the positive electrode active material has a rolling density of 3.0 g/cc or higher under a pressure of 2 ton.Math.f:
Li.sub.aNi.sub.1-x-yCo.sub.xM1.sub.yM3.sub.zM2.sub.wO.sub.2  [Formula 1] in Formula 1, M1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al and Mn, M2 is any one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti, Mg, Ta, and Nb, M3 is any one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, and Cr, and 1.0≤a≤1.5, 0≤x≤0.5, 0≤y≤0.5, 0.005≤z≤0.01, 0≤w≤0.04, 0<x+y≤0.7.